Pinochet Gets Role in Inauguration of New Leader

By SHIRLEY CHRISTIAN, Special to The New York Times

Published: February 3, 1990

SANTIAGO, Chile, Feb. 2—
After initially seeking ways to avoid taking power directly from Gen. Augusto Pinochet, President-elect Patricio Aylwin has agreed to inaugural plans that include a full ceremonial role for the departing military ruler.

On March 11, in the new Congress building being rushed to completion in Valparaiso, the two men plan to take part in the formal end of 16 years and 6 months of military government.

General Pinochet, who came to power in 1973 in a coup that ousted the Government of Dr. Salvador Allende Gossens, will give up the presidential sash to the president of the new Senate, who has not yet been named. Standing between the general and Mr. Aylwin, the new Senate leader will in turn place the sash on Mr. Aylwin.

Maneuvering is still under way among political parties to select the leader of the Senate, The leading candidate is Gabriel Valdes, a member of Mr. Aylwin's Christian Democratic Party and Foreign Minister in the last Christian Democratic Government, that of Eduardo Frei in 1964 to 1970.

Many Differences Resolved

Immediately after his election on Dec. 14, Mr. Aylwin proposed that there be a three-day gap between General Pinochet's surrender of the presidency and Mr. Aylwin's accession, with power to be held briefly by an interim president.

But in a round of almost daily meetings between members of the future government and the departing one, including a session of nearly one hour early in January between Mr. Aylwin and General Pinochet, many of the differences were resolved.

Government officials say elected leaders of several Latin American nations, which have long awaited this moment in Chile, have abandoned their objections to arriving for the inauguration while General Pinochet is still in charge.

Instead, officials say, General Pinochet will be waiting at the airport on March 10 to welcome some of his strongest critics from the region, including President Alan Garcia of Peru and President Carlos Andres Perez of Venezuela.

That night, he will hold a buffet reception in the presidential palace for them and other foreign leaders, who will include the presidents of Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador, Brazil and Costa Rica, and Vice President Dan Quayle of the United States.

Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez of Spain, who is not a head of state, is expected to delay his arrival until the inauguration is completed, but probably in time to attend the new president's reception in the palace on the evening of the 11th. #20-Member Cabinet Named Mr. Aylwin, who has spent the time since the election organizing his government, has named a 20-man cabinet that combines some of his most trusted Christian Democratic colleagues and others who helped make his election possible.

Nine of the ministers are Christian Democrats, and one is close to Mr. Aylwin's party without being a member. Six are members of the newly unified and reorganized Socialist Party, the party of Dr. Allende, who died during the Pinochet coup. Two are members of the Radical Party, once the leading party in the country but in decline since the 1950's, and there is one each from the Social Democratic and Center Alliance parties.

The defense minister, expected to have one of the most delicate tasks because he will have to deal with General Pinochet as continuing head of the army, is to be Patricio Rojas, a 56-year-old Christian Democrat who has not been active in the party in recent years. He has worked for international agencies and commissions.

Enrique Silva Cimma, a constitutional law expert and leader of the Radical Party, was named foreign minister. Enrique Krauss, a Christian Democrat close to Mr. Aylwin, was named interior minister.

As expected, Alejandro Foxley, a Christian Democrat and economist with a doctorate from the University of Wisconsin, was named to the key economic post, minister of finance. #2 in Junta Keep Commands Ricardo Lagos, the most influential Socialist in Chile today and considered a presidential aspirant in the future, was named minister of education. Mr. Lagos narrowly lost his race for a Senate seat from Santiago in the December elections.

Mr. Aylwin has asked two members of the military junta that has fulfilled the legislative function in the outgoing Government - the commander of the air force, Gen. Fernando Matthei, and the director of the national police, Gen. Rodolfo Stange - to continue in their commands. The Constitution gives both the right to do so anyway, but Mr. Aylwin's request, which they accepted, was seen as a sign that the next president considers them to have played an important role in bringing about the democratic transition.

The President-elect asked General Pinochet to retire from his army command, but he refused.

The commander of the navy, Adm. Jose T. Merino, who like General Pinochet is 74, plans to retire.